Rad’dul Fasad is carried out without any discrimination: Shahbaz Sharif

Lahore : The Chief Minister Punjab Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has said that the final of Pakistan Super League (PSL) was a mega event which was made successful through joint efforts of the whole nation. The Punjab government had full support of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Army Chief Gen. Qamar Javed Bajwa for the holding of final match. The nation is happy while enemy is surprised as well as disappointed over the successful holding of final match.

Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif expressed these views while talking to a delegation of all Pakistan newspapers society who called on him under the leadership of president APNS Sarmad Ali.

The recent wave of terrorism was spread in the whole of country and in this background holding of final match in Lahore was a difficult decision. The nation has proved through the successful holding of final match that it is the bravest nation. The terrorists cannot weaken the commitment of the nation through their nefarious designs. Media also played key role in successful holding of final match and countered the critics with logic.

Punjab government provided best facilities to cricket lovers inside and outside of the stadium on the occasion of final match and I congratulate the whole nation over the success of this event. We will have to work with same zeal, commitment and courage to move Pakistan forward.

The whole nation supports the operation ‘Rad’dul Fasad’ launched to eliminate terrorism. Pak army, police, security agencies as well as the people have rendered sacrifices in war against terrorism. After operation Zarb-e-Azb, the operation Rad’dul Fasad will hit the terrorists hard. It is regrettable that terrorists coming from neighboring country Afghanistan carry out terrorist activities here. The suicide bomber who exploded himself in Lahore belonged to Afghanistan. We want good relations with Afghanistan and I appeal to the Afghan government to take serious steps for action against the terrorists.

Chief Minister said that representatives of APNS from across Pakistan are congregated in the hall. It is an honor to talk with the representatives of APNS coming from different regions including Sindh, Khyber PK, Balochistan, Azad Kashmir and Gilgit Baltistan.

Chief Minister said that operation Rad’dul Fasad is carried out without any discrimination of color or ethnicity. He said that terrorists have no religion and geographical identity. The person playing with the lives of innocent people is only a terrorist. I am first Pakistan and then Khadim-e-Punjab. This is our approach and vision and nobody should have any confusion about it. The people of all the federating units are interconnected and we will have to work collectively to eradicate terrorism. Our joys and sorrows are common. Pakistan consists of Balochistan, Sindh, KPK, Punjab, Gilgit Baltistan and Azad Kashmir and we are all Pakistanis. Any division in it would be against the national interests.

He said that people from across the country including Sindhis, Punjabis, Pashtun and Balochis reside in Karachi. Similarly, people from different federating units dwell in Punjab. We own Pakistan and we will have to develop it.

He said that during a meeting under the chair of former Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gillani in the regime of people’s party, the then interior minister Rehman Malik talked about Punjabi taliban. To which, I said that no one would deny if there are sleepers cells of terrorists present in Punjab. Similarly, there are sleeper cells in other provinces. Would the terrorists in Sindh be called Sindhi taliban and the terrorists in Balochistan be labeled as Balochi taliban. The people playing with the innocent lives have no relation with any cast, color or creed, they are only terrorists.

Chief Minister said that due to day and night work on energy projects, the energy crisis is about to an end. Ending energy crisis was a big challenge, which required hard work. Now, serious efforts taken under the leadership of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif have started bearing fruit. Load shedding would come to an end once and for all from the country in 2018. China has proved her friendship by investing 54 billion dollars in Pakistan. New records are going to be set by transparent and fast track completion of energy projects. Energy projects are directly related with prosperity and development of every Pakistani.

He said that CPEC is game changer which would benefit the whole of region. Friends are happy while the enemy is afraid over the CPEC project. The fast track completion of CPEC has made the opponents bewildered. Utmost efforts were made to lessen the importance of CPEC.

CPEC is an investment of time-tested friendly country China and 36 billion dollars are being spent on energy projects. Despite the fear created by politicians indulged in locked-down and sit-in, China invested in Pakistan and proved this quote as true that Pak-China friendship is taller than Himalaya, sweeter than honey, deeper than sea and stronger than iron. New records of transparent and speedy completion of energy projects are being set and it is evident that the projects under the leadership of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif are so transparent that they don’t have any resemblance.

He said that China is a dear friend who never demanded ‘do more.’ It wanted progress of Pakistan and its people. Chief Minister said that the issue of Panama is in the court and the verdict of Supreme Court would be accepted. PM Nawaz Sharif has no relation with Panama, nor is he a trusty.

On the other side, there are people who plundered national resources and their sixty million dollars are deposited in Swiss banks. When the Supreme Court directed the then PM to write letter to Swiss authorities about this money, the then PM instead of following the court directions allied with the party, due to which he was de-seated. He said that court has given verdict on issue of Nandipur. The elements responsible for corruption in Nandipur give lectures about eradication of corruption on tv channels.

The court has held the then law minister Babar Awan responsible on the issue of Nandipur. He is the person who plundered national money. People fully know about NIC scandal and rental power projects and decisions have been announced in this regard. Time has come to bring the looters of hard-earned money of poor to accountability so that the things should be crystal clear.

If this is happened then the history of Pakistan would be different. If the issue is put under the carpet then no-one would remember us. He said that Punjab government sacrificed for the approval of NFC award and Punjab government is sacrificing 11 billion of its share every year.

While replying to questions, Chief Minister said that Karachi is mega city of Pakistan and we will jointly restore its magnificence. He said that center has provided funds for developments of Sindh. Federal government is sponsoring green light project in Karachi. We are happy because development in Karachi would make Pakistan to progress.

On the other side, Punjab government completed metro bus service from its own resources and now metro train project is being completed with own resources. Federal government provided 50% funds for water project in Karachi. We own Pakistan and we would be happy if the center shares development in other provinces.

To a question about rangers operation in Punjab, the CM said that army and rangers are custodians of geographical boundaries. Strengthening of civil institutions is need of the time so that army and rangers could protect the borders and they may not be called in. the APNS delegation commended the development in Punjab as well as government’s transparency policies.

APNS president Sarmad Ali said that today we have not brought any issue because nothing is unsettled. Our all problems are solved by you and they are best implemented. The DGPR department in the Punjab is working in a professional way under the leadership of DGPR Raja Jahangir Anwar and it’s the role model for the whole of country. You and your team have successfully held PSL final in Lahore and I congratulate you on behalf of APNS.

Secretary General APNS, Umar Mujeeb Shami said that Punjab is lucky to have such a ruler having such an impeccable integrity. Punjab government has set examples of transparency which have been commended by international institutions.

Mujeeb-ur-Rehman Shami said that corruption is zero at upper level in Punjab while best efforts are being made for eradication of corruption at the lower level. The transparency policy of government has been commended everywhere.

Zia Shahid said that credit of development in Punjab goes to Shehbaz Sharif. Member APNS from Karachi, Amir Mehmood said that you speak from the heart and have a commitment to do something. When we come to Lahore from Karachi, we feel as if we have come to another country; you have changed the province of Punjab. The government is working actively to establish corruption free society.

Provincial Minister Mujtaba Shuja-ur-Rehman, advisor Muhammad Ahmad Khan, MPA Uzma Zahid Bukhari and APNS representatives were present on the occasion.